Chapter 26: Viva Las Vegas

Reid's purpose in coming to Las Vegas days before the meeting with Conklin was mostly to check on his mother. He wanted to spend time with his mother to make sure she was okay. He knew the bomb threat probably upset her, and he wanted to do all he could to calm her.

Reid visited her every day, including the morning of his meeting with Conklin.

"I'm fine Spencer," she said. "It's very sweet of you to visit, but I'm fine."

"I worry about sometimes is all, Mom."

"That's sweet dear, but I don't want to take you aware from your job. I don't like that you work for fascists, but you help people."

"Mom, I don't work for the FBI anymore. I'm teaching now, remember?"

"For now."

"No, not just for now. I'm finished with FBI."

"I hope so. It's such a sad job you have. Had." Her brow furrowed. "So, when will I meet your friend, what was her name?"

"Emily. Not right now. She couldn't come this time."

"I see. Is she teaching too?"

"No Mom. She is still in the FBI." Reid looked at his watch. "I have to go. I have a meeting."

"A meeting?"

"There's someone who wants my help for a research project. I'll be back. While I'm gone, one of the nurses will keep you company."

"I don't need a babysitter."

"Of course not, Mom. But I would feel better if someone sat with you for a little bit."

"Fine. If it makes you feel better."

As Reid walked away, he heard the nurse ask say, "I understand your giving a lecture on Tristan and Isolde."

"This afternoon, of course. I always lecture in the afternoon. Have you done the reading, young lady?"

The nurse, who had dark hair and soulful eyes, said, "I haven't read it. But recently, someone read it to me."

Diana Reid smiled," Oh, that's best way, isn't it?"

At a table outside of a restaurant, Reid sat opposite of Morris Conklin. The bony Conklin has a smug smile on his face.

"Well, Dr. Reid," Conklin said," you've led me a merry dance, but I think the time has come to put our cards on the table."

"My cards have always been on the table. I have no desire to work for you."

"Dr. Reid, I think we are past the playing hard to get. Saying no has consequences. Next time, it won't be a pointless evacuation. And you mother isn't the only one we can touch." Conklin spread pictures out on the table so Reid could see them. It showed pictures of his father, his godson Henry, and Emily. Conklin pointed to Emily's picture," she has such a high-risk job. All kinds of things can go wrong, don't you think?"

"You might want to re-think going after Agent Prentiss. She's pretty tough. That woman you sent to drug me can tell you. And Henry's father is a cop, I don't think you want to mess with him. Maybe you better stick with old women, that seems to be your speed."

"You can't keep them all safe. I have all kinds of resources. In the end, you will be working for me, so why prolong the inevitable?"

"So just what is it you want me to do for you, Dr. Conklin?"

"Well, let's start with that time travel project of yours. We're working on a similar project, you can help with that."

"Why?"

"What do you mean?"

"Why are you working on time travel?"

Conklin smiled. "Why not? So many possible applications. To tell you the truth, I was about ready to give up on the project until I found your notes. I think with your help, it just might be possible."

"So you didn't notice the mistake?"

"Mistake?"

"In the math. I reviewed it recently, and it was so obvious I'm embarrassed I didn't notice it sooner."

"What mistake?"

"You didn't see it? I don't know if I want to work with someone who misses something so obvious."

"Dr. Reid, it isn't a matter of if you want to work with us. You will work for us or the people you know will get hurt."

"Hurt or killed?"

"I think hurting people gets better results. However, I can't guarantee that people won't die."

"That's mistake number three."

"I'm sorry?"

"You have made three mistakes. You know, I used play chess a lot. Then a few years ago, I thought through every permutation of every chess move possible."

"That would be an almost infinite number of moves."

"Not even close, just exponentially large. Anyway, I found that every chess game is just variations on the same theme: aggressive opening, patient midgame, and inevitable checkmate. Do you what leads to the checkmate? One person making a mistake – and you made three."

"What mistakes?"

"One, not taking no for an answer. Two, trying to hurt the people I love. Three, assuming you have the upper hand."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm assuming you think you have mom under surveillance right now, right? That the nurse you planted in the sanitarium has Mom under control?"

"What are you saying?"

Reid pulled out his cellphone and showed Conklin a picture of a woman in prisoner's close. "She's been in custody for the last twenty-four hours. And the pictures of Emily? I'm assuming you think she's in Virginia right now."

"She is in Virginia right now."

"No, she isn't. I did originally tell her to stay away, but she pointed out I was playing too defensive a game. By the way, your Mr. Shaw is also in custody. All of your reports from him? Fabrications."

"What do mean?"

"I have some very tech savvy friends who work for government agencies. One of them is Henry's mother. I don't think she is going to like that you targeted her son, do you Jennifer?"

Conklin turned his head to see JJ standing behind him, smiling. She was flanked by several government agents. Conklin turned back to Reid.

"Checkmate," Reid said.

At Bennington, Diana Reid looked at the brunette woman and said,"you aren't a nurse, are you?"

"What makes you say that?"

"You are too polite and too well-read."

"Well=-read?"

"The questions you asked, they speak to a familiarity of several sources. You are a friend of Spencer's?"

"Yes, my name in Emily."

"Emily? Prentiss? Yes, he's written me about you in his letters."

"Did he?"

"He's very fond of you."

"I'm very fond him too."

"I'm not all that fond of fascists, but you kind enough. ell me the truth Emily, what are your intentions about my son?"

"I …I love him."